I have had this bike since new. From memory it is a bike that Kona only did for a couple of years between 95-97 and therefore appears to be relatively rare. I certainly haven't seen any others like it on this site - its all cindercone, lavadome, explosif etc.

The bike itself underwent a relative major upgrade period soon after I bought it (98-00) - xt brakes, AHeadset, SID forks, Profile FR riser bar, xt front and rear mech etc. This were largely done to make it suitable for XC racing which I did for a couple of years afterwards. These upgrades in themselves could almost be classed as nearing vintage era in themselves.

Other than that the wheelset and chainset are original as are the Gripshift shifters.

I like to think of this bike as a great combination of modern touches and original Kona character. Would love to here from any other Koa owners out there!

Paintwork is in ok condition, a few years of not much use and garage storage has resulted in the paintwork bubbling up in a few areas where the damp has got at it. I am considering getting the frame re-sprayed, and have heard some good things about Argos Racing Cycles which is just round the corner from where I live in Bristol. I have picked up some replacement decals from that era from e-bay, but am unsure wether to keep the original colour scheme (and lose a lot of its original character probably) or try something new.

Last edited by MatthewW on Fri Nov 07, 2008 10:34 pm, edited 2 times in total.

There are a few other Koas owned by members on this site, not many I agree, but worth a search. I'm not sure whether the 96 frame was identical to the Muni Mula or just nearly identical, but in 97 they were identical, so I'd guess they probably were in 96 too. The Koa just had lower-level kit, and you've rectified that, so you end up with quite a nice bike.

Yes, they phased out the Koa after 97, but effectively when the Cinder Cone went over to aluminium in 99 that slotted in below the Muni Mula with an identical frame, so you could say that the Koa became the Cinder Cone.

I agree that it's strange that there are so few aluminium Konas on here compared to steel ones, especially so as it was just at this time that aluminium was really taking over. Everything that I've heard suggests that e.g. they sold far more Kulas than Explosifs in the late 90s, and yet you hardly see any late 90s Kulas on here (or on eBay for that matter). In my case, it's just that I'm too much of a softy to ride such a hard man's bike, but surely that can't apply to everybody else as well, can it?

Incidentally, personally I think it looks great and I wouldn't dream of having it repainted, but that's just me.

From what I can make out, in 96 the Koa and Muni Mula frames where either identical or very nearly. They were both certainly 7005 series Aluminium that year. The only possible difference was that the Muni Mula was double butted where as the Koa wasn't.

I've got a Koa, will be riding it on tmrw's South West ride. It's a lovely bike to ride and I prefer it to past steel Konas I've owned, 91 Cinder Cone in Cinder Gold, and a 93 Lava Dome in grey/blue.
Wish I hadn't sold the Cinder Cone though Try to get you a pic soon.

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